Toy-carrying and releasing device for kites



Aug. 10, 1948.

P. C. ARMBRUST TOY CARRYING AND RELEASING DEVICE FOR KITES Filed April 4, 1947 5 wwtov t FAQ/A c: AWMBAUJT Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Paul C. Armbrust, Columbus, Ohio Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,445

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to toy kites, and has particular reference to a toy device, of the type adapted for attachment to a kite string for conveying droppable toys from the ground to a flying kite; whereupon the device serves to release the associated droppable toy to permit the latter to descend once again to the ground.

In the past, many devices of this general character have been employed for the purpose set forth, but such devices were subject to certain disadvantages in operation and in mechanical design. It follows therefore that the primary object or aim of my invention is to generally improve upon known and patented mechanisms of this character, and to provide a toy-carrying and releasingdevice for toy kites which is mechanically efiicient, positive in operation, and economical in manufacture.

Heretofore, the principal difliculty encountered with devices of the character described, resides in the fact that the devices were subject to the accidental release of their associated droppable toy prior to reaching the desired point of release, which was substantially the point at which the kite is joined to the end of the kite string.

Such accidental release being occasioned primarily by the tangling of the device with the kite string during its ascent; and also by the accidental striking of the release mechanism of the device during its ascent. Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide a toycarrying and releasing device which incorporates means whereby such accidental release is eliminated, the same being provided with a trip, or releasing mechanism which functions to release an associated toy only upon striking a certain type of stop stationarily disposed upon the associated kite string at the desired point of release.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device of this character which is economical to manufacture, resulting in a reduced cost to the ultimate child user.

These and additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent with reference to the following descriptions and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved toycarrying and releasing mechanism occupying its operational position upon an associated kite string;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view 2 taken through the device and disclosing the same in its open, toy-releasing condition.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that the present invention makes use of a kite l which may be of any suitable type, and a kite string 2 extending from the kite body to a position on the ground. Fixed to the kite string 2, by knots located adjacent thereto, is a stationary stop 3 formed with a beveled or conical shaped surface 4. The use of this stop 3 will be hereinafter explained in detail.

The toy-carryin and releasing device, comprises an elongated body 5 provided at its upper surface with a pair of spirally wound hooking devices 6, the latter being adapted for detachable engagement with the associated kite string 2, whereby to permit longitudinal sliding movement of the body with respect to the string. Carried by the body 5 and depending therefrom, are forward and rear bracket members, I and 8 respectively. Each of the brackets l and 8 are substantially U-shaped and are attached to the body by means of suitable rivets or pins 9. The brackets I and 8 slidably receive an elongated and forwardly projecting keeper I0, the latter being formed at its rearward end with a substantially U-shaped bail II. The rearward bracket 8, is formed with a downwardly opening slot [2 and cooperates with the bail of the keeper ill to provide a sliding latch adapted for the releasable attachment for an associated toy [3. The toy is may take the form of any suitable object such as a toy glider, as shown in the drawing, a parachute, or paper message, or any suitable toy device which is capable of being blown upwardly of the kite string under action of the wind. It will also be understood thatthe toy article l3 must be provided with a substantially looped lead line [4, adapted for engagement with the bail portion of the keeper ill.

The forward end portion of the keeper I0 is formed as at [5, with an upwardly projecting shoulder, which is engageable with the forward tapered-nose portion l6 of the body to prevent the keeper from rearward longitudinal sliding movement, and to prevent accidental release of the associated droppable toy 13. The extreme end portion of the keeper l0 terminates in an outwardly flanged and beveled striking surface I1, which, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, is engageable with the cooperative beveled surface 4 of the stop block 3. It will be seen, that as the body 5 travels upwardly of the associated kite string 2, the striking surface I! of the keeper will ultimately strike the beveled portion of the stop 3, thereby disengaging the shoulder i5 from the pointed nose l6 of the body and exerting a backward longitudinal movement upon the keeper body It). Upon backward longitudinal movement of the keeper lil, it will be seen that the bail portion II which carries the supporting loop of the toy article I3, will be slid backwardly within the rear bracket 8 to open the slot I2 formed in the rear bracket and to release the toy article l3. The backward movement of the keeper I is limited by a stop formed at the rear portion of the body. This stop [8 is substantially semi-conical in configuration, and provides a beveled surface similar to that of the stop 3, and functions as a secondary releasing stop for a second identically formed releasing device as the latter progresses longitudinally of the kite string after the first carryin and releasing device rests at the original stop 3. Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that the body portion is provided with an inwardly tapered recess l9 disposed between the rear bracket 8 and the stop l8, and provides a space adapted for the reception of the bail II as the same moves rearwardl upon striking the stop 3. This recess further functions to eliminate friction between the keeper l0 and the body 5, as the former is displaced outwardly, and is slid backwardly upon strikin the stop 3.

It will be understood, that the shoulder portion I5 formed at the forward end portion of the keeper i0, serves as a means whereby accidental release of the keeper I0 is prevented in the event that the keeper should become entangled in the kite string as the body progresses upwardly thereof. It will also be seen, that as the beveled striking surface I! engages with the cooperatively beveled surface of the stop 3, the shoulder will be displaced downwardly out of engagement with the forward end portion of the body, thereby permitting the keeper to slide rearwardly of the body within the brackets 1 and 8.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides both a useful and novel device for supporting and releasing droppable objects from kite strings, whereby said objects are made to glide or drop earthwardly from the kite to provide both an interesting and educational novelty for the child user. The invention is further characterized by its mechanical efiiciency; its simplicity of construction, its ease of operation, and its consequent economy of manufacture,

I claim:

1. In combination with a toy kite and a ground string therefor, a toy-carrying and releasing device comprising an elongated body provided at closing the slot formed therein upon relative longitudinal movement of said-keeper with respect to said body and for releasably supporting a droppable toy, said keeper being formed at its forward portion with a shoulder adapted for holding engagement with the foremost end of i said body, said shoulder when so engaged serving its upper surface with longitudinally disposed to prevent longitudinal movement of the keeper with respect to the body, said keeper being formed at its extreme outer end with a beveled striking surface, and a stop adapted for stationary positioning upon said ground string substantially at its kite-receiving end, said stop being formed with a beveled surface cooperative with the striking surface of said keeper, said stop serving upon striking engagement with the forward end of said keeper to disengage said shoulder from said body and to impart longitudinal sliding movement to said keeper thereby effecting the release of a toy carried by said bail.

2. In combination with a toy kite and a string therefor, a toy-carrying and releasing device comprising an elongated body adapted for detachable sliding engagements with a kite string, a pair of brackets disposed substantially at the ends of said body and depending therefrom, one of said brackets being formed with an outwardly opening slot, a keeper slidably positioned in said brackets and extending longitudinally of said body, said keeper being formed at one end with a substantially U-shaped bail cooperative with the slot formed within said bracket for opening the same upon longitudinal sliding movement in one direction, said bail serving as an attachment for a droppable toy, said keeper being formed at its opposite end with a shoulder adapted for holding engagement with an end of said body and a beveled striking surface, said shoulder serving when engaged with the end of said body to prevent longitudinal movement of the keeper with respect to the body, and a stop adapted for stationary attachment to said kite string, said stop being formed with a beveled surface adapted for striking engagement with the beveled striking surface of said keeper to disengage said shoulder from the end of said body and to impart longitudinal sliding movement to said keeper to release the toy carried by said bail.

PAUL C. ARMBRUST. 

